The depths and richness of nature all around us emphasise how lucky we are - particularly when this is captured by the creativity and skill of the artist.

The glow from Derry Shannon's 'Christmas Light' illuminates the birds foraging busily on the snow covered ground ... and inside the window items with marine association, a variagated plant, symbolic seasonal decorations ... another look outside shows a robin looking in suggesting positive and negative images of Christmas.

'Arcadia' is a Greek region that takes its name from the mythological character Arcas and was the home of the god Pan. Arcadia was celebrated as an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness.  In Claudio Viscardi's painting the south west coast of Ireland is seen through the arches and pillars of ancient architecture. In the middle of the picture the ghostly outline of Pan, the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs.

In 'Redwing dead in the Snow' Pauline Bewick captures the severity of recent winters when huge numbers of migrating redwings died here having come from more northern climes expecting milder conditions. The leaf-bare trees, the brown grasses and occasional fallen leaf, the leaden sky, and the shining snow-capped mountains emphasise the scene.

William Crozier believed that if he glimpsed the landscape for longer than a few seconds his mind became overcrowded with images. In 'West Cork' the focus is on a bright gaggle of trees in the foreground, an ominous blue-grey sky - with some brighter promise on the left, and in the background a harsh purple area of higher ground and a glimpse of a stone fence.

Susan Sex's 'Fruiting Dogwood' is a permanent record of so much rich fruiting this Autumn. The bright luscious appearance attracts birds who then spread the seed far and wide. While the fruit is edible it is sometimes bitter. It is native of Himalayan foothills. The painting is a further example of Sex's skill as a botanical artist - hugely highlighted in her exhibition of orchid paintings in 2009.

Our 25th birthday/Christmas 2011 exhibition offers a whole series of unique memories of this special year. The Gallery also has a selection of sculptures and other paintings available.

To highlight all of that, for the 14th year we are joined by the singers of the Opus '96 chamber choir whose rendition of Christmas carols is a very special introduction to the festive season.

Sculpture by Hans Blank, Cliodhna Cussen, Leo Higgins, Noel Hoare, Billy Leen, Joe Neeson, Ciaran Patterson, Joseph Sloan